New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-01
A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY.

What is fairer than the New Year, clothed in
all the rainbow tints of hopei But the gray old
year which has left us, bowed down with so
many disappOintments and so much of unfrut-
full or half fruitful endeavor, wore Just as
bright tints when it came gayly to us, January
l, 1886. Other years before were not less gray
and gloomy hen they departed, and not less
grand with promise and radiant with hope
when they dawned. The thought need not
blunt the edge of enjoyment, as We welcOmc
tho new opportunities and the new duties. But
it may admonish every one to put more of zeal
and thOrOughness into the effort for the year
that now begios and more of wisdom and I'M
selfish thOughtfulness into the choice OF Oppor-
tunites, so that when this new year also ends
there may be n deeper satisfaction in the retro
spect, and some glad thank fulness that its gifts
have not come in vain.
For Americans it should be year OF peace,
and if lawmakers and people, laborers and
employers, work together in good faith, year
of prosperity. Sinking responsibilities will
not bring blessings and this old truth was
never truer than it is day for those who are
charged with the government OF this country.
1t will not be possible to stand still this year.
Something must be done for good Or for evil.
A dO-nOthing Congress is at times blessing,
but If this Congress does nothing to reduce tt
surplus revenue, the year may have some trying
hours for us all. Within few weeks the work
must be done or left undOne, and if law makers
could fOresee the consequences OF failure to
act az clearly as experienced bankers can, they
would not tolerate any waste OF time until this
pressing duty had been performed. Other
measures are pending that may go tar to give
the new year its character, for good or for evil.
as respects the history of this country. Mess
the duties and needs of the hour are met with
wisdom and sincere patriotism, the year will
not 90 as gayly rs it comes.
Good resolutions are in order, and there is
one that all employers and all workers should
make to-day with firm purpose, namely, t"
devote the year to work and not to wrangling.
There has been too much antagonls III OF feel
ing, too much of organizing for the purpose OF
antagOnism. If workers or employers are con-
sciOus that any organization or method tends to
foster less amicable feeling, to breed strife,
and to render the adjustment OF difficulties
harder and more doubtful, they should con-
slider Just here whether that organization or
method cannot with profit be put aside. For,
in spite of all demagOgueS and all theories, the
worker and tho employer have the same inter-
ests in larger sense than many realize, and
whatever harms one must harm both. Some
progress has been made during the past year
toward the adoption of arbitration as means
of settling disputes, and Of prof sharing and
corporation as means Of preventing them.
If all will put their hearts into the work, this
year may witness the general adoption of more
peaceable and far more profitable methods of
adjusting the relations between labor and
capital than have yet been employed